dot Hear it!

dot1 definition

dot (dät)

noun

  1. a tiny spot, speck, or mark, esp. one made with or as with a pointed object; as
    1. a point used in orthography or punctuation; specif., the mark placed above an i or j in writing or printing
    2. Math. a decimal point; also, a point used as a symbol of multiplication
    3. Music a point after a note or rest, increasing its time value by one half; also, a point put above or below a note to show that it is staccato
  2. any small, round spot polka dot
  3. Telegraphy a short sound or click, as in Morse code

Etymology: OE dott, head of boil: prob. reinforced (16th c.) by Du dot, akin to Ger dütte, nipple, Du dodde, a plug, Norw, LowG dott, little heap or swelling

transitive verb dotted dot′·ted, dotting dot′·ting

  1. to mark with or as with a dot
  2. to make or form with dots a dotted line
  3. to cover with or as with dots; appear as dotlike parts in gas stations dotted the landscape

intransitive verb

to make a dot or dots

Related Forms:

dot Idioms

dot one's i's and cross one's t's

to be minutely correct or detailed in doing or saying something

on the dot

Informal at the exact time or point
dot2 definition

dot (dôt)

noun

a woman's marriage dowry

Etymology: Fr < L dos (gen. dotis) < dare, to give: see date

Related Forms:

  • dotal do′·tal (dôt'l) adjective
DOT definition

DOT

Department of Transportation

Comments


Do you have more to add? Sign in to share your linguistic knowledge or observation.

Connect with Facebook